10 February 2023
Carbon-Free Athletes : Journey to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic
Paris, once known as the “City of Fashion”, had become the epicenter of the agreement of global leaders to tackle the issue of global warming since COP21 in 2015 (Conference of the Parties or the Paris Climate Conference). However, it was not until COP26 2021 in Glasgow, the United Kingdom, that tangible objectives and plans for global warming emerged.
Paris 2024 Summer Olympic, the destination for the three Thai badminton athletes from Banthongyord Badminton School.
“Coach Pae”, Phattaphol Ngernsrisuk, from Banthongyord Badminton School, a renowned coach for the world’s top men and women badminton athletes, stated that “The key challenge this year for Banthongyord School athletes is being able to participate in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Sustainability and Badminton
As a badminton school, we recognize the increasing awareness of global warming and environmental issues, even though this issue has not yet fully impacted the badminton sport - especially in Asia in which 80% of world tournaments are based. However, this year, more than 20 badminton tournaments will have new co-hosts from the United States and Australia. European badminton players are more conscious about global warming and one issue being addressed is the sequencing and routing of tournaments from one region to another region and back to the original region (Southeast Asia - South Asia - Southeast Asia) that incurs more undue costs and expenses as well as more carbon emissions from traveling.
“Thai badminton may not be as aware of the issue, but initiatives from sponsoring private sectors such as sport clothing produced from recycled plastics. Abroad, there are discussions to convert broken badminton rackets into Graphite to produce new rackets, and by mid-2023 should be a serious trending issue leading up to the Paris Olympic Games in 2024, which has officially announced its pledge to control the event’s climate impact, halve emissions arising in relation to the Games and by offsetting more carbon than it will generate.”
Bangchak Sponsors Carbon Free Thai Badminton Athletes
Coach Pae added that Banthongyord currently hosts numerous foreign athletes, especially from Europe and the United States, prompting the school to take progressive environmental considerations to address the issue of global warming and raise awareness through simple daily actions such as reducing single-use plastic and adopting reusable cups.
“Bangchak has expanded its sponsorship for the 9th consecutive year by pledging to offset the carbon footprint arising from travels for about 20 competitions and emissions from daily activities of the athletes throughout 2023 for Nong View (Kunlavut Vitidsarn, world’s 6th ranked male badminton player), Nong May (Ratchanok Intanon, world’s 8th ranked female badminton player) and Nong Jiew (Lalinrat Chaiwan, world’s 30th ranked female badminton player). We are delighted to learn of this initiative from Bangchak, for it is vital emerging trend that is in alignment with our aspiration to raise awareness and integrate environmental responsibility in our athletes both in training and competing, leading up to the Paris Olympic 2024 that will surely focus on reducing and offsetting carbon emissions of all participating athletes” Coach Pae concluded.
All sporting roads are leading to the Paris Olympic Games 2024. Bangchak will offset the carbon footprint from travels and the daily activities of Banthongyord badminton athletes throughout 2023 with carbon credits procured from the Carbon Markets Club, which is a steppingstone to raise awareness that individual carbon emissions from everyday life affect the planet and that it is everyone’s responsibility to help the world in whatever capacity we can.
